Pumas bounced back after going down 2-0 to get a 3-2 victory against Puebla. After a harsh week in which Pumas was the only Liga MX team to be eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup, Pumas got a key
away win to climb to 2nd place in Liga MX for a moment and with a performance that gives a boost in very entertaining match. Pumas will have a tough match at home against Monterrey while Puebla will have another big match at home when they host America.
The 1st half started with Pumas having the return of Cesar Garza to the starting 11 while Adalberto Carrasquilla wasn’t yet ready to start, but was on the bench. After getting into the area, Alvaro Angulo got off a left footed shot that would go just wide. Kevin Velasco got off a left footed shot from outside the area that was easily saved by Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas. Edgar Guerra would get off a shot from outside the area that was deflected just wide. After getting the ball in the area, Esteban Lozano would get off a left footed shot that would go just wide. A cross into the area was volleyed badly by Guillermo Martinez, wasting a chance. A cross into the area would from close range by Juan Pablo Vargas past Navas to give Puebla the 1-0 lead. It was not a surprise as Puebla had more possession and Pumas’ defense kept struggling to contain them. A cross into the area was headed by Lozano just wide, as Navas had made a mistake going out for the ball but was lucky that Lozano didn’t heat it towards the net. Off a counter, a great thru pass would find Edgar Guerra, who got off a strong right footed shot past Navas to score and give Puebla the 2-0 lead. It was a great counter as Pumas’ defense was terrible especially from Angulo. A cross into the area would fall to Martinez but his left footed shot was blocked by Puebla’s defense. After a ball was failed to be cleared, Robert Morales would get off a great cross that Guillermo Martinez would head from close range past Puebla’s goalkeeper, Ricardo Gutierrez, to score and place the score at 2-1. The halftime whistle blew and although Pumas had improved in the last minutes, they were still trailing.
The 2nd half started with neither team making a change. After getting the ball in the area, Pedro Vite got off a right footed shot that was deflected just wide. Off a counter, Guerra got off a right footed shot that would go just wide. Pumas subbed out Cesar Garza for Adalberto Carrasquilla. Puebla would sub out Edgar Guerra and Carlos Baltazar for Miguel Ramirez and Alonso Ramirez. Rodrigo Lopez got off a right footed shot that would go wide. From outside the area, Velasco got off a shot that went well wide. AAfter a great pass, Angulo got a good opportunity but his shot was cleared by Puebla’s defense. Earlier in the play, Morales had been brought down by a Puebla defender but nothing was given. After going to VAR, the referee decided to give a Penalty Kick to Pumas. Robert Morales stepped up to take the PK and his right footed shot would go past Gutierrez to score and tie the game at 2-2. Puebla subbed out Emiliano Gomez and Luis Rey for Fernando Monarrez and Alejandro Organista. Pumas subbed out Ruben Duarte and Alan Medina for Angel Azuaje and Juninho. A cross into the area wasn’t cleared and fell for Lozano but his shot was blocked by Pumas’ defense. A cross into the area was headed wide by Lozano. Pumas subbed out Guillermo Martinez for Uriel Antuna. A great thru ball from Carrasquilla would find Juninho in the area but his left footed shot was blocked by Gutierrez and although the rebound fell to Jordan Carrillo, his shot was blocked by defender Enrique Navarro. From just outside the area, Carrillo got off a right footed shot that went just wide. Puebla subbed out Esteban Lozano for Eduardo Mustre. Mustre would get the ball in the area and get off a left footed shot that Navas would brilliantly save. Off a longball, Antuna would be able to reach the ball and get off a cross into the area where Juninho got off a brilliant move and get off a turn around left footed shot past Gutierrez to score and give Pumas the 3-2 lead. Puebla tried for that tying goal but Pumas held on to complete their victory and gain three huge points.
Pumas came into their match with Puebla with a terrible result on their back. Although they defeated San Diego FC on Tuesday by a 1-0, it was not enough to overcome their 4-1 loss in the first leg and they were eliminated. Not only did they were the only Liga MX team to go out in the tournament but it was another disastrous result in CONCACAF against an MLS side. Coach Efrain Juarez was fighting for his job and going down against Puebla by two goals, even if it was an away game, wasn’t going to help things. Yet Pumas bounced back with a great performance in what was a great match. Puebla fans will not be happy with the result but they also battled out as both teams gave an exciting match. Pumas will now return home where they will face a tough match against Monterrey while Puebla will be in a similar situation as they hosts Club America.
